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This is my first email from ‘Think You Know for Parents’ following signing up for updates from them:

Thank you for registering for up-to-date advice that over time will help you and your child or children stay safe from sexual predators on the internet. Each month we will cover a specific topic of interest, explain some of the terminology being used and advise you on how to work with your child to understand what they are doing online and what safety precautions they should be taking.

February’s email covers Online Gaming – or you and your children may know it better as Miniclip, Runescape and World of Warcraft – as these are just some of the most popular sites. Playing games online is a fantastic pastime for children and young people and its popularity continues to grow at a rate that is growing with technological advances.

Children are now able to play games with others or individually while the internet also opens up the possibility of playing with ‘friends’ from right across the world.

The opportunities are becoming endless.

Online games can range from the simple two player interaction such as chess games, to the complex, multi player games – such as Lord of the Rings Online – which are based on a fantasy world.

In some games, players can trade items with other players, they can chat about how to get from one level to the next and they can even buy items within the games using fake ‘game specific’ currency. Sometimes, to get to the next level in a game or to complete a particular task, players can ask for, or trade, ‘cheats’. In some cases, paedophiles who are gaming online will use this aspect within games to draw children and young people into a ‘grooming’ scenario – trading a ‘cheat’ to perhaps engage a child in a sexual act for example.

A few simple steps will help your child stay a lot safer in these environments.

So what can you do to encourage your children to use online gaming sites safely…….
It’s a good idea to keep the computer in a family room. This is so you as a parent can monitor the games your child is playing online, to ensure they are age appropriate, and also so your child won’t engage in activities that could put them at risk. You might also be able to reduce the temptation of your child to spend hours on these sites at any one time.

It’s best that if your child wants to use gaming sites, they think of a nickname to use rather than their real name. Adults with a sexual interest in children will pose as children themselves and use gaming sites to engage with a child. Children and young people should be aware that some people they meet online and play games with may not be who they say they are, so they need to be careful not to give out any information about themselves.
As a parent, it’s vital that you talk to your child and make sure they know how they should behave when they are gaming. They should be encouraged to not accept cheats or talk to people they don’t know in the real world. And if anyone asks them to do anything that makes them feel uncomfortable, they should tell a trusted adult or report their suspicions at the www.thinkuknow.co.uk website.

A whole new world
Online language can be quite baffling to the uninitiated! Below you can see some of the acronyms and terminology used in gaming
Aggro: Slang for attack, usually by a hostile creature, and used as both a noun and a verb. If you wander into a hostile creature’s “Aggro radius,” chances are it will attack you. If you’re with a group, usually the stoutest warrior character goes in and takes the first aggro to distract the monster.
Buff: A temporary increase in the powers or abilities of your character.
Character: The person you control in the game. In many games, you can have more than one, so there might be more characters appearing in the game over time than there are players logging on and off.
Con: Short for consider. Most games will tell you how strong an opponent is compared to how strong you are—and whether you have a chance of winning a battle with them. All smart players check this information before a fight.
Ding: To gain a level in experience. Players who advance in levels often say “ding” in chat, either to inform their team mates or just to gloat.
GTG: Acronym for Good to Go. Means you’re ready for whatever’s next.
Loot: In-game items. You can loot items from fallen players in some games, or take the loot from foes after a victory. You can keep the loot if it’s something your character can use, or sell the loot for currency to buy something you can use. Used as both a noun and a verb.

Find out more…..
You can now register to receive our bi-monthly e-bulletin which provides information to subscribers on all areas of the work of CEOP. Visit www.ceop.gov.uk to find out more.

Help us in the fight to locate missing child sex offenders- register to receive updates when more details are released or new offenders are posted on the site. Visit www.ceop.gov.uk/wanted

What is CEOP again……
CEOP is the police agency specifically set up to tackle the sexual abuse of children in the UK. Find out more about our work at www.ceop.gov.uk and register for updates on all areas of our activity.

And finally- did you find this email useful……
If so, please forward it onto friends and family and they can register to receive these emails too. If you are not registered to receive these emails, register here http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/register.aspx